Setting

Core Assumptions

AI Is (Almost) Everywhere

Artificial intelligence is not a specialized technology but rather a pervasive layer of civilization.

Transportation networks, logistics systems, communications, manufacturing, traffic control, emergency response, and government administration all rely heavily on AI systems.

The major AI blocs—HELIX, ATLAS, LUNE, and TERRA- are not governments, but they exert enormous influence through the systems they manage.

Robots Do Most Physical Labor

Most routine physical work is performed by robots. Factories, mines, construction sites, cargo terminals, maintenance facilities, and even many service industries are heavily automated. Humans remain important, but their role has changed. For example:

• An engineer does not spend their day turning wrenches. She directs robots, supervises systems, solves unusual problems, and get blamed when things go wrong.
• A typical pilot does not manually fly a spacecraft. Automation handles routine operations. The pilot intervenes when conditions become abnormal. "99% boredom, 1% terror."
• A typical medic often treats patients via telepresence systems, robotic surgical suites, and AI-assisted diagnostic tools.

Infrastructure Matters

This is not a setting of star empires and isolated worlds. It is a setting of:

• transportation corridors
• orbital traffic networks
• industrial facilities
• resource depots
• logistics chains
• communication systems
• the first leg of a brand new laser highway, potentially disruptive for all of the above

So be ready for adventures that revolve around infrastructure:

• Who controls it?
• Who maintains it?
• Who benefits from it?
• Who sabotages it?
• What happens when it fails?

Human Skill Still Matters

This scenario rejects the idea that advanced AI and robotics make human expertise irrelevant. It may turn out the opposite is true. Modern systems amplify human capability. A skilled engineer supported by robots and AI can accomplish vastly more than a similarly skilled engineer working alone. I don't see that changing within the timeframe of this game setting.

That same engineer becomes even more valuable when the AI malfunctions.

Assisted Operations

One of the most important assumptions in the game is that routine work is normally AI-assisted and robot-assisted. Rolling to hit an 8 for an average check assumes standard AI and robotic benefits. The listed difficulty for most tasks assumes access to appropriate tools, networks, robotics, and AI support. When those systems are unavailable, tasks become slower, harder, or sometimes impossible.

The referee may adjust:

• the time required
• the target number
• or both

depending on the severity of the disruption.

Domain Skills vs. Remote Operations

This setting is necessarily different than Mongoose; here, robots are generally considered tools.

• A pilot remotely operating a spacecraft still rolls Pilot.
• An engineer supervising repair robots still rolls Engineer.

The relevant professional skill remains primary. Remote operations become important when the remote link itself creates difficulty. But remotes ops is still useful. Examples include:

• communication delays
• poor sensor quality
• degraded bandwidth
• damaged robotic systems
• unfamiliar interfaces
• controlling multiple systems simultaneously

In those situations, Electronics (Sensors & Remote Operations) will reduce penalties or overcome complications. And, yes, sensors and remote ops are combined.

"What expertise is actually limiting success?"

Usually the answer is not the robot, but rather the human operating it.
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